A trio of $14,000 events for fast-class horses highlighted the Saturday afternoon (Aug. 8) action at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
In the single trot Mississippi Storm got some racing luck when, sitting fourth-inside late backstretch. The two- and three-holers moved outside to challenge, allowing him to use the Pocono Pike and power through to a mark of 1:52, beating out Lord Cromwell by a length. The Cantab Hall gelding, a winner of $331,788, was driven by Anthony Napolitano for trainer Tom Fanning and owner Joseph Smith.
The photo finish camera was needed to determine the winner of the two pacing headliners. In the first, the Roll With Joe gelding Joesstar Of Mia A was parked to a hard three-eighths by War-N-Munn before making the lead, then had to be game to repel that one’s inside stretch charge, winning by a neck and earning a new speed badge of 1:50. Ohio shipper Our Corelli N, who may have been in the Buckeye State going to the three-quarters, was in overdrive late to be another neck back in third. A winner of $208,394, Joesstar Of Mia A was handled by the hot-driving Simon Allard for trainer Steven Brabrook and the ownership of Jonathan Lapp Jr. and Wish Me Luck Stables LLC.
Perennial Pocono sulkysitting leader George Napolitano Jr. kept the Art Major gelding Alluneedisfaith N rolling on the front, with Twin B Tuffenuff flying up the Pocono Pike but coming up a head shy at the end of the 1:50.4 mile. Alluneedisfaith N now has banked $307,673, with Nifty Norman training the game winner for the Robert Cooper Stables LLC.
FINISHING LINES – Pocono will host Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action (and its companion Stallion Series races) the next three cards. The undefeated Party Girl Hill and 2019 champion Lyons Sentinel top the three-year-old pacing fillies will race Sunday (Aug. 9); Grace Hill, 2-for-2 in the Sire Stakes, heads the two-year-old pacing fillies Monday (Aug. 10); and Allywag Hanover has the highest profile among the hardhitters in three-year-old pacing colt action Tuesday (Aug. 11).
(PHHA/Pocono)